Trenitalia will soon put into operation in Sicily the first hybrid Blues train manufactured by Hitachi Rail which has unveiled the new train at InnoTrans in September 2022.
The total Blues framework agreement with Trenitalia includes the supply of up to 135 trains worth EUR 1.2 billion. For Sicily, 22 of the trains will travel in the region.
The Blues train is equipped with a new generation of hybrid technology using battery, diesel and electric power. This means that the new train can travel with diesel engines on non-electrified lines, with pantographs on electrified lines, and with batteries, where applicable, to travel the last mile on non-electrified lines or while stopping at stations, avoiding the use of fuel. Batteries also help to further improve normal power performance. Switching off the engines during the arrival, parking and departure from the stations allows 50% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2emissions compared to current diesel trains as well as helping to reduce noise pollution.
The Blues offers high levels of comfort to passengers being equipped with an innovative air conditioning system that allows optimisation of consumption based on the actual number of passengers on board, USB and 220v power sockets for greater connectivity.
The train is designed with large windows and provides bike areas and high luggage transport capacity. The trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h and can accommodate up to 300 people seated in the four-cars composition.
The accessibility is optimised according to the latest Technical Specifications of Interoperability defined in the EU for Persons with Reduced Mobility (TSI PMR) through a height of access to the train at the level of the platform, to the benefit of all travelers, as well as the minimisation of internal steps, which allows maximum usability of the train by passengers.
The new train has been designed with green solutions including high levels of recyclability (95%) in the materials, the use of raw materials coming from recycling, on-board technologies that minimise energy consumption, such as the internal and external LED lighting systems the smart air conditioning system and the use of Smart Parking.
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